The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) has issued a warning that the current financial climate is having an enormous effect on nurses. The warning follows the release of figures by the RCN which show a significant increase in the number of nurses contacting the RCN’s welfare service for debt advice.
Nurse debt on the increase
The union is now dealing with a monthly average of 33 cases of severe debt, including eight repossessions. This is an increase of 23% on the same month last year. The RCN welfare service has managed to renegotiate repayments and stop repossession for an average of five households every month. The RCN has expressed concern that that nursing students are at particular risk as they must pay rising household costs on an average bursary of around £550 per month.
